Foothills Academy

The last 2 weeks have been frustrating to say the least.  Let me start at the beginning.

My youngest daughter has ADHD.  To some, this is just an overused term.  To others, it's the why behind the bad behavior..an excuse some parents use.  But that's not what it is at all.  ADHD is a medical condition that can make some very normal activities very difficult for some kids.  My Bear is one of those kids.

She doesn't cry to get attention...she cries because she's overwhelmed.  She doesn't forget what she's supposed to study because she wants to watch TV...she just really doesn't remember.  She doesn't write in a line down the side of the page because she doesn't think as linear as you do.  She is my Bear and she's wonderful...however, lately, the school and her teachers don't agree with me.  They think....ADHD is just a 'medical condition' and it doesn't mean a child requires any help in class.

And so the search began.  My quest to understand her rights as a student...as a human being.  My mission to advocate stronger and louder than I have before.  My need to show her she's supported and to find the support her circular thinking mind needs to succeed in a linear class environment.

Enter The Foothills Academy.

Now, 'Bear' is not a student there.  She's in regular public schools like most other kids but through researching the various websites out there like CADDAC (another set of wonderful and supportive strangers), I found a group called GLOW GIRLS.  This is a sort of girl guides for girls with ADHD/LD.  Sarah now attends every week but that's another review...and a good one at that.

What I want to be the point of this entry is that the help the folks at the Foothills Academy has offered...the support and guidance...is unbelievable.  And all with nothing to gain from me.

When you walk through their school, you get such a good feeling.. it's supportive and bright.  Fun and inspirational.  There's amazing art on the walls by the students.

It just feels good and right.

And the people.  Kim, from Foothills, and Alicia...both experts in this field, have spent so much time just talking to me. Guiding me and saving me from the mountains and heaps of information that I've been sifting through.

They are amazing. 
And to them I say....  Thank you.

Motivated Moms 2012

Hi everyone.

I wanted to step up on my soapbox today and talk about a new iPad app that I ran across at the end of the year. The thing about this review is that, well, I can't decide how I feel about this product and their customer service. Let me explain.

I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning. Thing is, I love a clean house, but I hate cleaning and I live with 3 other people who seem to feel the same. It's not that we don't spend time on those tedious but rewarding things but that we're so busy that when we get home, the last thing we want to do is clean toilets or wash dishes.

And so one night I ran across this iPad app (MoMo Lite) which was a free version of a pre-planned house chore checklist created by Motivated Moms. What a fabulous idea. All my chores broken down into bite sized chunks and who doesn't love to check things off a list and get that wonderful sense of accomplishment! (I DO! I DO!)

So I tried it and....
I loved it and so....
In late in November, upgraded to MoMo 2011 for a whole $3.99 (What a bargain you say!?)

That's when it all went wrong.

You see, as it turns out, the MoMo (Motivated Moms) apps are annual. That's right. They last for a year and then you buy the next one so on January 1...my list was empty.

I was so very sad.
I ranted and I raved and eventually, (last week) I sent a note to the makers of the app asking if they had a backup file so I could continue using the same list. I don't need upgrades! I don't need MoMo 2012! I had barely begun 2011!

And their answer was mostly "no".

I could go back and fix it by changing the dates, day by day, chore by chore, to a 2012 date or I could spend the $7.99 to get the new version.

Now, $7.99 is not alot of money but it's the principal of it all! Why should I? I only JUST bought the last app when it STOPPED WORKING! I mean, it didn't say it was an annual program. I didn't -know- it would stop working! It's just wrong! Wrong I say!

Except that I want it.

And so that's what it comes down to. I mean, the program is great and it works for me. I like it. My kids like it. Even my husband likes it so why am I balking over $7.99 or sticking to the principal of it all?

Well I'm not. I'm going to buy it. Probably as soon as I publish this post.

I'm giving the MoMo 2011 product a 2 mom-thumbs up as an iPad app and pre-planned chore program but I'm giving their customer service a 1 mom-thumbs down.

I've attached the link to the website (app support) that has some screen shots of the program so you can get a feel for it. Just a warning though, their app is far better than they're super crappy website and there's a real religious feel about it so if you're not into that, no worries. You can opt out of the bible reading stuff and if you are, it's a bonus.

So in summary, here are my ratings:

MoMo Lite YYY
MoMo 2011 YYYY
MoMo Customer Service :( Y
MoMo 2012 -- I'll let you know next December 2012 if I buy the new version!

I hope you'll all take a look at the the MoMo 2012 program and send me your feedback.

Welcome!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to RUMOUR HAS IT.

This is my product review blog where brutal honesty is the main rule. Good or bad, you'll hear about it here.

If I try something, or go somewhere, or taste something or just want to tell you about it, well, this is where it will be and I want to hear your thoughts and reviews too!

Bell tick you off?
Your Blackberry isn't working how it should? ---- Let me know!

Did you go to a restaurant you can't wait to get back to
Love your new mascara? ---- We want to hear it!

Let me know if there's a product you want reviewed and I'll try to work it in.

Stay tuned. First product reviews will be coming soon!